Browns of Chester

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Browns of Chester

| type = Unit

| image = Crypt Chambers 1.jpg

| image_caption = Crypt Chambers houses part of the store and is a Grade I listed building.

| foundation = {{start date and age|1780}}

| defunct = {{End date|df=yes|2021|05|12}}

| location = Chester, England

| key_people = Susannah Brown (founder)

| industry = Retailing

| owner = Debenhams (1976-2021)

}}

Browns was a department store in Chester established in 1780 by Susannah Brown.{{cite news |url=https://www.chesterstandard.co.uk/news/19495777.pop-up-display-will-share-history-iconic-browns-chester-store/ |title=Pop-up display will share history of iconic Browns of Chester store |date=6 August 2021 |first=Gary |last=Porter |work=Chester Standard}} The store traded from its site on Chester's Eastgate Street from 1791 until 2021.{{cite news |url=https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/browns-chester-important-part-citys-19394362 |title=Why Browns of Chester is such an important part of the city's history |first=Gemma |last=Sherlock |date=6 December 2020 |work=Chester Chronicle}} Once regarded as the "Harrods of the North",{{Cite web |url=http://ww.virtualchester.org/view/view_location.php?id=22 |title=Browns |website=Virtual Chester |access-date=27 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728163021/http://www.virtualchester.org/view/view_location.php?id=22 |archive-date=28 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news |last1=McCann |first1=Phil |title=Browns of Chester: Sad demise of 'the Harrods of the North' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-57111826 |access-date=15 May 2021 |publisher=BBC News |date=15 May 2021}} the building interior contains many ornate features such as glass-domed roofs and elaborate plasterwork surrounding small chandeliers in the main entrance area. Some of the glass roof on the second floor has been concealed as it has been covered by the construction of the third-floor extension which contained the main café and Kalmora Spa.

The oldest part of the store is housed in the Grade I listed Crypt Chambers, designed by T. M. Penson incorporating Georgian, Tudor and Gothic facades. Construction was completed in 1858. The building incorporates part of the Chester Rows. On the front of the tower at Row level is a blank scroll, on the east face is a recessed panel containing the initials W. B. (for William Brown), on the west face the initials are C. B. (for Charles Brown) and on the rear face is a scroll inscribed AD 1858: Crypt Chambers. The Gothic facade frontage is built over a medieval undercroft dating from the twelfth century. The undercroft most recently contained 'The Tea Press' tea room.

Another extension to the building was completed in 1965 to link Browns to the nearby Grosvenor Shopping Centre. A new three-story extension was built in 2002 on the site formerly occupied by the offices of the Chester Chronicle.

It was acquired by Debenhams in 1976. Browns was the only store in the group to retain its own trading name alongside the standard 'Debenhams' branding.{{cite news |url=https://www.chesterstandard.co.uk/news/18911786.chesters-historic-debenhams-store-brink-permanent-closure/ |title=Chester's historic Debenhams store on brink of permanent closure |date=1 December 2020 |first=Gary |last=Porter |work=Chester Standard}} Debenhams entered liquidation in early 2021 and all remaining stores closed during May that year.{{cite news |title=End of an era for Debenhams as final shops set to close |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56993816 |access-date=15 May 2021 |publisher=BBC News |date=5 May 2021}} The building was owned by British Land.{{cite news |url=https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/browns-chester-owner-gives-update-20621383 |title=Browns of Chester owner gives update after Debenhams closure |first=Alex |last=McIntyre |date=18 May 2021 |work=Chester Chronicle}} It was bought by Martin Property Group in 2022, along with the neighbouring Grosvenor Shopping Centre.{{cite news |last1=Porter |first1=Gary |title=What the future holds for Browns of Chester and Grosvenor Shopping Centre in 2023 |url=https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/what-future-holds-browns-chester-25758114 |work=Cheshire Live |date=27 Dec 2022}}